This is one of 5 granola recipes I have in my “to-post” folder. It was the last granola I made before I had to leave the nest. I wanted to get pretty creative here and go out with a granola-bang. So what’s a flavor or granola you don’t see very often? Orange. That’s right. Oranges themselves are pretty awesome. Sweet, tangy, juicy. I like them, but they don’t necessarily do much for my reflux. However, in granola you don’t get the full acid effect. Just the taste, so I’ll take it!

Now, besides the orange, I used the ever-forgotten hemp seed! I always have a bag in the fridge, but always forget they’re there! Then I use them and remember how lovely they taste and how much nutrition they pack! Per serving (30g) you get 10g protein, 10g omega 3 & 6, 13g healthy fats, all for 170 calories! A little seed plant-based powder house! The great forgotten complete vegan protein source in my option. Hemp also makes a lovely protein powder which I always have on hand! Totally clean, and only 1 source.Read More

Hey! How was your weekend? Mine was relaxed and layed-back like usual. But it was a good one since the weather was perfect, I am still over-joyed that I got my license, and it simply left me feeling good about myself just like last weekend! Saturday was work at the library, grocery shopping, and yoga. Sunday was Pilates leg work, calves, and quick upper-body work, weeding in the front of the house (haha, fun…), more yoga-selfies (this is my new guilty pleasure. It always leaves me feeling really good!), blog work for this week, and a nice relaxing night.

So now on to today’s Power Monday. I wanted to talk about the importance of breakfast! Might I add, I am pretty sure it is the best meal of the day as well. But that may just be because I love mornings! Now I never get very fancy with breakfast, but I always eat it. I would never imagine skipping it; I just wouldn’t be able to function otherwise.

If you want to Power you day, you need to start it with some much needed good quality fuel. Most people are going 10 to 12 hours since their last meal the day before. During most of this time our bodies are sleeping, but they are still working. They are repairing, growing, and maintaining. All of that requires fuel. So if you wake-up and don’t replenish your energy reserves, you will not be able to function at an optimal level. If you skip breakfast just to get a few more minutes of sleep, those few minutes of sleep will be a waste because you will still be lacking much needed energy. And if you are skipping breakfast to lose weight, well, that’s one of the worst things you could do for the cause. Your metabolism will be slow and sluggish all morning until you finally eat. Which by then you will probably eat a much larger lunch then you would have if you had actually eaten breakfast. Thus, the reverse effect of what you wanted. It is proven that people who eat breakfast are able to maintain a much healthier weight than those who don’t. A 2003 study in the American Journal of Epidemiologyshowed that people who skip breakfast are 4.5 times more likely to be obese than those who take a morning meal.

So now what are some easy and delicious options for breakfast? O, the possibilities are endless! Here are some of my favorites:

These are just my go to eats. I always like at have something a little sweet but not to sweet and has to be a good mix of carbs, protein, and fats. Other options (for non-vegans) are eggs (like omelets and scrambles) or for vegans a soy-free scramble or omelet, healthy pancakes or waffles, overnight oats or oatmeal or granola, try making your own cereal, even something small like a homemade granola bar, or a piece of fruit and nut butter. I know some people find that they are just not hungry in the morning, that is why a smaller option can be good. Just plan a healthy mid-morning snack as well. I like to have fruit and almonds for my mid-morning snack. They keep me satisfied till lunch and I don’t worry about any unhealthy snacking this way. (For more awesome breakfast eats first my Pinterest boards!)